Past Mayors of Feilding

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6627, 14 August 1931, Page 3

Past Mayors of Feilding

ATTEND JUBILEE MEETING Of EOROUGH COUNCIL

By way of celebrating its jubilee the Fcilding Borough Council had in attendance at its meeting last evening .four of the past Mayors, each of whom, had something to say on the progress of tho borough. Owing to tho fact that tho borough played a large part in the Manchester block jubilee celebrations seven years ago, no steps were taken to hold any special ceremony in regard to the borough’s jubilee, and accordingly last evening’s proceedings were simple, yet distinctly appropriate. The Mayor (Mr. C. E. Taylor), in opening the meeting, stated that tho gathering that evening coincided with the first meeting of the Borouh Council held on August 15, 1881. He would request the town clerk to read tho minutes of the first meeting of the council, which procedure, lie understood, was in accordance with timehonoured custom. Tho town clerk (Mr. N. G. Harding) then read the minutes, following which tho Mayor formally moved that th«;e be recorded in tho minutes of the meeting. This was seconded by Cr. D. Pryde and carried.

Congratulations from Palmerston North A telegram from the Mayor of Palmerston North, offering congratulations to Feilding, was then read, and it was agreed that an appropriate reply be sent.

Speaking of the occasion, Mr. Taylor said it would give him tho utmost pleasure to welcome the four cx-Mayors present, Messrs. Edmund, Coodbeherc, J. S. Tingcy, W. E. Carthcw and Cr. E. Fair. He was particularly pleased to have Mr. Goodbelicre in attendance, for lie bad served the borough on three occasions as Mayor and had the honour of having held tho office for the longest period—a matter of ten years. Mr. Goodbehcrc v r as in attendance at tho first meeting of tho council held in the old immigration barracks in August, .1881. He w T as not then holding an official position, but attended tho meeting as a member of the public. The Mayor went on to refer to the number of prominent business men who had occupied the Mayoral chair, and in this connection, ho said, Feilding had been particularly fortunate. Ho was satisfied that Fcilding was a town of substance, and by way of illustration cited the fact that, notwithstanding the economic depression, 97 per cent, of the rates had been paid before March 31 last. This was, lie felt sure, somewhat of a unique position and one wdiich reflected tho soundness of the town. (Applause.) Concluding, tho Mayor invited Mr. Goodbehcrc to speak. Received w T ith applause, Mr. Goodbehere said ho was very pleased to bo present at the jubilee meeting of the council, and ho proceeded to endorse the Mayor’s remarks as to tho stability of the town. Fcilding had always had a reputation for soundness among commercial travellers. Touching upon his service on tho council, Mr. Goodbehcrc said that while it was true that he had held the Mayoral office on three occasions, ho had, in between times, served as a councillor, and had actually sat on the council for 24 years. Ho had had something to do with the formation of tho borough, for it was his duty to go round on horseback and count the houses—no light task in those days, when habitations wore scattered .from Hitchman’s corner to Whisker’s on Kawa Kawa road, to Lethbridge’s hometo the Oroua river. It was necessary to secure the requisite number of houses, and this had caused tho boundaries to bo extended in order to obtain the desired result. There were objections, and the Whisker and Lethbridge properties w r ero excluded. Ultimately the . boundaries had been fixed, and public interest was never greater than in tho election of the first council. All the candi-. dates had to face a public meeting, which proved to be a most entertaining gathering. Everyone had a very happy time. That first council had been composed of all good men and true, and that had been his experience throughout the half-century: that tho town had always had the benefit of the services of its most outstanding citizens. He had attended the original meeting of the council as tho representative of tho Rangitikei Advocate. The council had had little revenue when it commenced, and in ISS3 had tried to raise a loan of £IOOO, which was thrown out because the ratepayers were not satisfied that their particular streets would benefit. However, Cr. Peter Thomson had urged that if the council set out a schedule of works which would enable the ratepayers to see where the money was to be spent, a loan would be supported. This was done, and t.he first loan of £OOOO was raised from the Government Life Insurance office at 7 per cent., which included 1 per cent, sinking fund. Ho was one of tho sinking fund commissioners, and he well remembered that when the loan fell due the council had very little to find to make up the accumulated sinking fund.

Mr. Goodbehcre went on to deal with the state of the roads in the borough, and said that things proceeded quietly until the big loans which wore raised when he was in office for water, sewerage and drainage. Peilding was then running neck and neck with Palmerston North, and its situation in the centre of an extensive area of valuable land, plus its closeness to the proposed Mugby Junction (the present Bunnythorpe) influenced progressive townspeople to battle for the carrying of the big loans. Palmerston North, however, being the Government town, ‘ ‘ had the pull,” and it ultimately became the big railway junction centre. There was also the proposal to take the railway up Kimbolton road to Cheltenham, and from there across to Marton, but the present-day route was subsequently resolved upon. There was ever a friendly rivalry between I'eilding and Palmerston North, and although “w T e have met with our disappointments, we should be satisfied that wo have a good, clean, healthy and sound town.” Concluding, Mr. Goodbehcre offered the Mayor of the town the best of good luck and a continuance of its prosperity. (Applause.) Mr. J. S. Tingey was also pleased to bo present and mentioned that he came to Feilding 25 years ago. The speaker recalled the big undertakings which had been put in hand during the period he was on the council and held the office of Mayor. Reading schemes, water supply and electrical supply were among the big things which the borough had undertaken for the advancement of the town. The town had been very well served, and he hoped that the councillors of the future would emulate the services of those who had done so woll for the town. (Applause.) Mr. Carthew said that with but two exceptions he personally knew all the original council, and it had occurred to

him that he was fast qualifying for the position of the oldest citizen of the town. It was a fact that he was the first Feilding-born man to occupy the Mayoral chair. Ho paid a tribute to those who had so faithfully served the town, and he joined with the other speakers in expressing the hope that Feilding would continue to prosper. (Applause.) Cr. Fair felt he was rather a ‘‘now chum,” but nevertheless ho was 1 very happy to have been honoured by serving as Mayor of the town. Ho had adopted a conservative policy during his term of office, and in view of the present financial position of the country ho felt that that policy had. been one of wisdom. (Applause.) On the motion of Crs. D. Pryde and A. C. McCorkindale, a resolution recording the council's appreciation of the attendance of the four past Mayors, Messrs. Goodbehere, Tingey, Carthew and Pair, was carried by acclamation.